2015 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places

A longer-term prospect that will require patience, the 2015 Côte Rôtie Les Grandes Places was fermented with 100% whole clusters and spent two years in new barrels. Blackberries, leafy herbs, olive and sappy flower notes all emerge from this rich, concentrated Côte Rôtie that has tons of minerality, building, firm tannin and terrific mid-palate concentration. Forget bottles for 4-5 years, but it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity. This tiny, family run estate has come on like gangbusters over the past 4-5 years and are now fashioning some of the finest wines in Côte Rôtie.

A full-bodied tannic beast for aging 20 years, the 2015 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places is a monument to the Syrah grape grown on this steep slope. It's floral and peppery upfront, loaded with masses of dark fruit and glides to a long, velvety finish.

Inky ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark fruits, spicecake and incense, and a suggestion of olive emerges slowly. Concentrated cassis, bitter cherry and licorice flavors are sharpened by a peppery nuance and a late kick of smoky minerality. Chewy tannins build steadily on the impressively long, sappy finish, which echoes the spice and smoke notes.